
R E P O E T 



Si 



imiGADIEIl-GEKERAL HENRY M. NAGI.EE 



OF pis 



COMMAND OF THE DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA 



coStainixg 

IIIE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN . GEN. NAGLEE AND THE MAYOR 

AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, 

REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

J. B. LirPINCOTT «& CO. 

1863. 



U. 





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Book. 






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BRIGADIEE-GENERAL HENRY M. NAGLEE 



COMMAND OF THE DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA 



A.I>FENDIX 



CONTAINING 



THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN GEN. NAGLEE AND THE MAYOR 

AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OP PORTSMOUTH, 

REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 
1863. 



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5^1 1 3^ 



REPORT, Etc. 



Headquarters, Norfolk, Sept. 28th, 1863. 

Colonel : I would respectfully submit the following report : — 

In obedience with the orders of Major-General Foster, I assumed 
command of the Department of Virginia, Tth Corps, on the 25th 
day of July last. 

On the 28th of July, I addressed the communication marked A, 
hereunto attached, to the most prominent citizens of Princess Anne, 
Norfolk, Currituck, and Camden Counties, M^hich was promptly re- 
sponded to by letters marked B and C, and at the same time in 
person by deputations composed of Union and disunion men, non- 
combatants from within our lines; and it was determined that so 
long as they should take no active part against the Government, 
they should be protected, and be permitted to trade, under certain 
restrictions, with the merchants of Norfolk. 

The immediate results of these measures were most satisfactory, 
but produced a jealousy and alarm among certain bands of guer- 
rillas that have since the war occupied the swamps of Currituck 
and Camden Counties. This feeling increased to that extent, that 
they were determined to stop the above trade and intercourse with 
Norfolk; for which purpose a concerted movement was made on 
the Tth September, and all of the bridges within the above four 
counties were destroyed. Some of the bridges were rebuilt, and 
again destroyed, and I resorted to the means indicated in Special 
Order, marked D, hereunto attached, and required that the bridges 
should be kept in repair by the most prominent secessionists in the 
immediate vicinities ; and this seems to have had the desired effect. 



My next purpose was to drive all of the guerrilla bands beyond 
the lines. These men are not uniformed, and it is impossible to 
distinguish them from the farmers of the country. They are fami- 
liar with the country, and conceal themselves in the thickest and 
most unapproachable places; our cavalry were taken at a great 
disadvantage, and invariably the first knowledge they had of ap- 
proaching danger, was a volley when least expected ; and which 
was followed by a scattering of those who thus frequently delivered 
a very destructive fire. To meet these surprises in the future, I 
have ordered that when approaching these dangerous places where 
an attack may be expected, some half dozen of the most influential 
restless secessionists of the vicinities should be forced to act as 
guides, and be placed with the advance ; from the protestations 
made by them I anticipate almost certain favorable results. Al- 
ready I have cleared Princess Anne and Norfolk Counties, and I 
can safely promise that before ten days, under the order given to 
Colonel Lewis and the dispositions made, there will be an end of 
this disturbance. 

I have arrested a large number of persons who have been feed- 
ing, and, I believe, encouraging these outlaws ; and I have ordered 
the trial of two of the guerrillas taken from a number of them, who 
murdered some of my unarmed men that had gone a short distance 
from South Mills in search of milk. 

The most unsatisfactory and complicated subject that will claim 
your attention, will be to endeavor to harmonize the existence at the 
same time of civil and martial law. The former is attempted to be 
enforced by a mayor and a few justices of the peace, in the Cities of 
Norfolk and Portsmouth ; and extraordinary restrictions are unlaw- 
fully enforced by them under the laws of the "Restored Government 
of Virginia," which, if carried out, must inevitably result in the utter 
destitution of a very large portion of the population of those cities. 
Physicians are not allowed to practice, unless they will take the oath 
of allegiance to the United States and the "Restored Government of 
Virginia." The immediate result of which is that the poor suffer 
and die unattended, and sickness prevails to an alarming extent. 
No debts can be collected unless the applicant will first take the 



above oaths; and a landlord can neither collect his rent nor get 
possession of his property. And to such an extent is this carried, 
that the Mayor of Norfolk refused to expel a band of negroes from 
the residence of a gentleman forcibly taken from him by them. 

In a word, these people are but prisoners of war, and, as such, 
are entitled to certain rights which cannot be violated. They should 
be allowed to feed themselves, or the Government must feed them ; 
their property can only be taken by legal measures. The Consti- 
tution expressly provides the only manner of testing disloyalty ; 
and the act of Congress of July 29th, 1862, places the jurisdiction 
and condemnation of property with the U. S. District Court, 

I would call attention to my letter to Mayor Collins, of the City 
of Portsmouth, dated September lYth, 1863, marked E, in which I 
requested to be informed what the Council of that city intended to do 
for the support of their poor. On the 22d I received his reply, 
marked F, and in which you will no doubt note with surprise his 
assertion that "of the 1200 persons drawing rations, there are not 
500 of them entitled to the same." Your surprise will, however, be 
directed towards Mayor Collins, when, by the perusal of the commu- 
nication of Capt. Hill, (marked G,) Commissary of Subsistence, one 
of a Board of three Commissaries, with v/hom I left this subject, 
you will learn that "the Mayor, in his own handwriting, and by his 
authorized agents, recommended 1461 persons for support." 

And " lest, even with the precautions taken, any improper persons 
should receive rations, the Mayor was invited to an examination of 
the list, and note any that he considered not entitled to relief." 

" The interference" made by the military authority with the acts 
of the Council, referred to by Mayor Collins, was disposed of by my 
communications to you, which were forwarded to the President in 
August. 

I am most happy to know that the stringent reforms introduced 
by General Orders No. — of August 1st, 1863, marked E, and those 
of General Orders No. 4, dated 15th September, 1863, marked F, 
have most effectually stopped the contraband trade, and underground 
mail. And in this connection I am most happy to commend the 
activity and energy with which officers and men have, one and all, 



assisted in establishing a system which promises to be most thorough 
and complete. 

Within the past two weeks large seizures have been made of goods 
attempted to be smuggled through at Fortress Monroe, and within 
the past few days personal property has been seized, of the same and 
of other descriptions that had been buried, of value exceeding seventy 
thousand dollars. 

I have found some embarrassment for the want of proper written 
orders from your headquarters, and especially in regard to the troops 
sent from North Carolina into Currituck and Camden Counties, 
who, although within the limits General Foster verbally assigned to 
me, have never reported to me, nor have I had any advice whatever 
of their coming. Another difficulty arose from the same cause, in the 
Albemarle Sound, where the Army Gunboat General Jessup, placed 
under my command by the verbal order of General Foster to watch 
and guard that sound and the Pasquotank River, was summarily 
ordered away by General Peck. See copy of his order attached, 
marked J. 

Again, on the 13th August, 1863, A. A. G. S. Hoffman issued 
an order, see Appendix, marked K, by which Captain Lee and his 
crew were ordered to report to their regiment. This was not discov- 
ered by me until September 3d, when I informed you of the absolute 
necessity of the crews remaining in the gunboats, and again on the 
7th September i-equested that the order, so far as it related to them, 
should be countermanded. This being refused, I requested you to 
instruct me how this service was to be performed, and was answered 
" by the Quartermaster's Department." There being no troops at the 
disposal of the quartermaster, the gunboats required to watch the 
smuggling that is attempted in the direction of Craney Island and 
the Nansemund are without crews, and the necessary guard against 
contraband trade is not provided. 

General Getty is entitled to much credit for the unremitting atten- 
tion incessantly bestowed in the construction of his entrenched line. 
The work, after the expenditure of immense labor, now rapidly ap- 
proaches completion. 

I am most happy to close my report, and my connection with the 



District of Virginia, with an acknowledgment of my thanks to the 
officers and soldiers of the same. They have promptly responded to 
all orders ; they have won my esteem and affectionate regard. 

"Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

HENRY M. NAGLEE, 
Brigadier- General. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Southard Hoffman, 

A. A. O., Depart, of Virginia and North Carolina, 

'^Sth Army Corps. 



-^- 



Exhibit A. 

Letter to the Inhabitants of Norfolk, Princess Anne, and Currituck 

Counties. 

Headquarters Dkpartment of Virginia, 
(.Norfolk, Va., July 28tli, 1863. 

Messrs. John Barnard, John Ackiss, 

James E. Bell, Malachi Moore, 

Clayton B. Ackiss, Will. L. Sanderson, 

John J. Burrows, John Sanderson, 

Henry M. Woodhouse, John L. Cox, 
John Woodhouse, Wm. C. Mercer, 

John Morgan, and others, 
of Norfolk, Princess Anne, and Currituck Counties 

Gentlemen : Before entering upon any hostile or severe measures, 
let us endeavor to avoid them, and with this spirit I would propose 
a friendly and reasonable understanding for the consideration of all 
persons living between Drummond Lake and the ocean, south of 
Hampton Roads. I propose that as long as there is no necessity for 
any active legitimate warfare within the above limits, that there 
shall be a cessation and removal of all disturbing and irregular war- 



fare ; and especially as no possible good result can be expected from 
the continuance of a course of conduct which falls entirely and most 
heavily upon the non-combatants on both sides, and which you can 
control. 

I would further propose that, with an understanding, as above sug- 
gested, the people within the district above indicated will be per- 
mitted to sell their produce in Norfolk or Portsmouth, and purchase 
the necessary supplies for their families at the same places, it being 
expressly understood that no hostile act shall' be committed against 
the Government of the United States, nor any attempt be made to 
carry information or supplies west of the line indicated. Requesting 
an early consideration of the above, 

I am yours, respectfully, 

(Signed) HENRY M. NAGLEE, 

Brigadier- General Commanding. 

P.S. A picket line will be estabhshed upon the line referred to, 
from Drummond Lake to the head of the Pasquotank River. 



Exhibit B. 



General Henry M. Naglee, 

Commanding Dejoart. of Va. 

General: The foregoing paper reached us on the 29th day of last 
month. It came by the hands of Dr. Jas. E. Bell. 

"We are citizens of Princess Anne County, and in replying to your 
communication, can speak only for ourselves. 

We are desirous of coming to a reasonable understanding with the 
authorities in Norfolk City, and willing to co-operate with them to 
the extent of our ability in the effort to suppress the irregularities 
alluded to in your communication. We are aware that no good 
results have accrued to this county, or to any citizen thereof, from the 
practices of certain parties, known as " Blockaders" and " Smug- 
glers." That we have been greatly embarrassed and harassed on 



9 

their account, we have every reason to believe. We have not been 
engaged in such practices, and are opposed to them. But, General, 
we cannot control these irregularities. The authorities in Norfolk 
City, with a large military force at command, have been laboring to 
suppress smuggling, blockade-running, etc. for more than a year, and, 
if rightly advised, without success. How, then, can we control the 
matter ? All we can do is to advise against, and discourage it. This 
we have done, and will continue to'do so, whenever opportunities offer, 
and to the extent of our influence. 

We are opposed to all in-egular warfare being carried on in our 
county, and have uniformly advised against everything tending 
thereto. There is not a man of any position or consideration in this 
county that has given any other advice. And this advice has pre- 
vailed. There are no armed men in Princess Anne banded together 
for the purpose of waging an irregular warfare therein, and we feel 
assured that there never will be any, unless, indeed, our condition 
should be rendered hopelessly insecure. But if bands of armed men 
from other localities should come into our county, or pass through 
it, for the purpose of waging irregular (or desultory*) warfare here 
or elsewhere, it would be impossible for us to prevent it. All we 
could do would be to advise against and discountenance any such 
attempt. This we would do ; and furthermore, we pledge ourselves 
that whatever of influence we possess, the same shall be exerted 
against the formation of companies of armed men in our midst, the 
object of which would be to wage irregular warfare in this county. 

And further, we are within the Federal military lines, and while 
therein we expect to regulate our deportment according to those rules 
usually prescribed for the observance of non-combatants. Hence, if 
allowed to visit Norfolk or Portsmouth, and there permitted to sell 
our produce, and purchase the necessary supplies for our families, we 
will not commit any hostile act against the Government of the United 
States, nor make any attempt to carry information or supplies west 
of the line indicated in the foregoing letter. On the other hand, we 
ask that we be protected in our persons, our homes, and property, 

* These two words are in one copy only. 



10 



and not held accountable for the actions of citizens of other localities, 
or for the irregularities and misconduct of a few reckless,* or bad 
men, wherever found. 

All of which, General, is respectfully submitted, 



W. M. Bormey, 
Smith S. Woodhouse, 
E. D. Fisher, 
A. R. L. Keeling, 
Edward James, 
H. I. Chandler, 
Ransom Brock, 
A. M. Bell, 
Benj. Morris, 
Wm. Moses, 
John P. Keeling, 

The following names, 
another sheet : — 
J. J. Burroughs, 
John Woodhouse, 
Lancaster Fentress, 
M. W. Drewry, 
John H. Day, 
Jona. Hunter, 
H. B. Styson, 
Wm. Nimmo, 
John H. Ackiss, 
Dl. Douge, 
W. W. Buekey, 
James Gornto, 
R. H. Beyton, 
J. H. James, 
John W. Lewis, 
Wm. T. Strawband, 
Jothan Moore, 



Thos. W. Wilkins, 
Jona. Hunter, Junr., 
Solomon S. Keeling, 
Samuel James, 
John Gournto, 
Henry Gournto, 
Thomas Keeling, 
I. S. Woodhouse, 
J. Bonney, 
Horatio Cornick. 



attached to a duplicate of the above, on 

C. B. Ackiss, 
David B. Vaughan, 
H. M. Woodhouse, 
John H. McClanhan, 
Noah Munden, 
S. A. Brock, 
Henry Brock, 
T. W. Steveband, ( ?) 
David Malbon, 
Henry Legett, 
Wm. Bundick, 
Thos. Harrison, 
H. M. Brock, 
Jesse Dyer, 
A. B. Malbone, 
Wm. P. Morgan, 
T. I. Gornto. 



* This word "reckless" is in one copy only. 



11 



Exhibit C. 

Currituck County, August 10th, 18G3. 

To Brig ADiEE- General H. M. Naglee. 

Your communication of the 28th ultimo, addressed to the under- 
signed and others, has been received, and as much pubUcitj has been 
given to the same as circumstances would admit. 

With a spirit becoming humanity, and due to non-combatants, you 
seem desirous that the disturbing and iiTegular mode of vrarfare now 
existing in our midst should cease or be removed ; and, at the same 
time, you seem to entertain the opinion that the citizens are respon- 
sible for, and have the power to remove and control it. 

While we readily admit that its consequences fall entirely and most 
heavily upon non-combatants, the defenseless and the innocent, we, 
at the same time, most positively declare and affirm that the citizens 
are not responsible for it, and can exercise no control whatever over 
those who are thus engaged. They are not, as you suppose, private 
citizens, but are soldiers, organized under officers commissioned by 
the State or Confederate authorities. This being a true statement 
of the facts in the case, you will readily perceive that they are entirely 
beyond the control of the citizens. 

In regard to your proposition to permit our citizens to sell their 
produce, and purchase the necessary supplies for their families in 
Norfolk and Portsmouth, we must say, we have no doubt that many 
would gladly avail themselves of such privilege for the legitimate 
purpose of supplying their families, yet there are others so wedded to 
speculation and the love of gain that they would risk everything, 
even life itself, for the sake of money. Hence you cannot fail to see 
how utterly useless for us to make any pledge that no attempt shall 
be made to carry information or supplies beyond your designated 
line. 

Situated as we are, and have been since the reception of your com- 
munication, it has been impossible to obtain a full and free expression 
of opinion, the citizens being disposed to remain at home ; but after 



12 



as thorough an interchange of opinion as we could get, and at as 
early a day, we have thought it due to you and to ourselves to sub- 
mit this candid statement of facts, hoping and believing that, with a 
knowledge of them, you will' no longer hold us responsible for what 
we cannot possibly control, and also to remove from your mind any 
prejudice or misapprehension heretofore entertained. 
Yours, respectfully, 
Richard B. Flora, Thos. L. Sanderson, 

John Barnard, E. F. Baxter, 

Joseph B. Morgan, John L. Cox, 

B. M. Baxter, Wm. C. Mercer, 
S. Ferebee, Wm. Jones, 
James M. Ferebee, Henry J. Wilson, 

C. G. Lamb, of Camden Co., John B. Bell. 



Exhibit D. 

Order for Rebuilding London Bridge. 

Headquabters Department of Virginia, 

Norfolk, Va., September Uth, 1863, 

Special Orders') 

No. I 

It is hereby ordered that Bartlett Smith, Dr. Tibault, Forbes, 

Thos. Keelan, John Kellan, John Dufifey, Horatio Cornick, John 
Ewell, Henry Gronton, Martin Harris, Charles Brock, and I. Brock 
shall rebuild the London Bridge within ten days, or they will be im- 
prisoned, and the bridge shall be rebuilt from sales of their personal 

property. 

By command of 



BRIGADIER-GENERAL NAGLEE. 



Geo. H. Johnston, 

Capt. and A. A. O. 



13 

Exhibit E. 

Letter to Daniel Collins. 

Headquarters Dbpartment of Virginia, 

Norfolk, Va., Sept. 17, 1863. 
Hon. Daniel Collins, 

Mayor, etc., etc. of the City of Portsmouth. 
Dear Sir : The number of destitute persons in your city amounts 
to over 1200, which number is rapidly increasing. 

I would respectfully request you to inform me of the course the 
Council of the City of Portsmouth intend to adopt to aid in the sup- 
port of the poor. 

Yours, respectfully, etc., etc., etc., 

(Signed) HENRY M. NAGLEE, 

Brigadier -General Commanding. 



Exhibit F. 
Mayor'' s Reply. 



Mayor's Office, 
Portsmouth, Va., Sept. 22, 1863. 

Brigadier- General Henry M. Naglee. 

Sir: Your communication of the llth instant, in "regard to pro- 
viding for the poor, is at hand. In reply I would state that I have 
been authorized by the Council of this city to state that the means 
adopted by the Councils to provide for indigent families in this city 
were interfered with by the military authorities, and consequently 
at present the civil authorities are unable to provide for such persons. 
Provision has been made by the Council by which we can in a short 
time provide for all indigent families who are legitimately entitled to 
relief. 

In connection with this subject I would state that there are per- 



14 

sons in this city who are drawing rations from tlie Government who 
would not receive any aid from this city government. I am satisfied 
it is almost impossible for you, or any of your officers to detect un- 
worthy persons, without a very close scrutiny; and of the 1200 per- 
sons drawing rations, there are not 500 of those persons to whom we 
would issue rations. 

There are a number of persons who are receiving aid that reside 
outside of this city, others are persons who moved into this city when 
the Federal lines were contracted ; there are others who managed to 
make a living until they were prevented from going out of the city. 

You are aware of one fact also, which compels many to apply for 
relief, "that is your order in reference to the currency." Many per- 
sons here who have Southern State money cannot pass it since your 
order was issued ; such persons are drawing rations, when, if their 
money was allowed to pass, they say they would not ask for relief. 

In conclusion, I would state that we are about to collect taxes, and 
many persons here have refused to pay taxes, thinking you will inter- 
pose your authority to prevent us from collecting ; we are willing to 
provide for the indigent people of this city, provided we are permitted 
to collect the money to do it. 

Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, 

DANIEL COLLINS, 
Mayor. 



Exhibit G. 

Capt. M. A. HilVs Strictures on the Mayor of Portsmouth's Letter. 

Office Commissaky of Subsistence, 
Portsmouth, Va., September 25ih, 1863. 

Captain : In obedience to the order of the General Commanding, 
to report on the inclosed letter of Mayor Collins, of Portsmouth, I 
have the honor to make the following statement : — 

The families at present receiving assistance from the Government in 
Portsmouth have, in nearly every instance, received the indorsement 



15 

of the " City Distributors," or of Mayor Collins. In letters heretofore 
and now transmitted, Mayor Collins has recommended for assistance 
one hundred and eighty -four families, comprising five hundred and 
seventy -two persons. The " City Distributors," the recognized agency 
of the City Government, recommend three hundred families, com- 
prising eight hundred and eighty-nine persons. Thus the Mayor, in his 
own handwriting, and by his authorized agents, recommend fourteen 
hundred and sixty-one persons for support. 

Lest, however, even with the precautions taken, any improper 
persons should receive rations, I invited Mayor Collins to an exam- 
ination of my list, and also wrote him a letter, a copy of which I 
herewith transmit, asking him to give me the names of such as were 
unworthy whenever he might hear of any. But three names have 
been given me by Mayor Collins, in reply to this letter. 
I am. Captain, 

Very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

MOSES A. HILL, 



Captain M. C. Conrad, C. S. 



Captain and C. S. 



Exhibit H. 



Headquarters Department of Virginia, 

Seventh Army Coups, Norfolk, Va., August 1st, 1863. 
Special Orders") 

No. > 

I. The following line is hereby established : Commencing at the 
mouth of Lhe Western Branch of the Ehzabeth River ; thence by the 
Western Branch to the head of the same ; thence by Bower's Hill to 
the head of Deep Creek ; thence through the Dismal Swamp to Lake 
Drummond ; thence to the head of the Western Branch of the Pas- 
quotank River; and thence by the latter and the Pasquotank River 
to Albemarle Sound. 



16 

II. Any person attempting to pass the above line will be arrested 
and severely punished. 

III. Any person attempting to pass letters, information, or mer- 
chandise across the above line, and all interested with them, will be 
imprisoned and severely punished ; and the goods seized, as well as 
all other personal property within this Department belonging to all 
implicated, will be confiscated. 

IV. Persons residing within the cities of T^orfolk and Portsmouth, 
and Princess Anne County, will not be permitted to pass into Nor- 
folk, Currituck, and Camden Counties, and those living within Nor- 
folk, Currituck, and Camden Counties, will not be permitted to pass 
north of North Landing River and Southern Branch of Elizabeth 
River and the Canal between them, unless in pursuit of their neces- 
sary business, with passes of the Provost Marshal, and no pass will 
be given for a longer period than fifteen (15) days. 

V. No boat will be permitted to enter the Western Branch of 
Elizabeth River, Deep Creek, or the Pasquotank River ; nor will be 
permitted to approach the left bank of Elizabeth River below the 
Western Branch of the same ; nor will be permitted to approach the 
shore between Craney Island and Pig Point, under a penalty of an 
immediate destruction of the boat, and imprisonment and severe pun- 
ishment of those taken and interested in the venture. 

VI. On or before the 15th of August, all steamboats, vessels, or 
boats of any description, must be numbered and registered by the 
Provost Marshal, who will require that they shall be kept at night at 
such places and in such manner as he may direct. An especial list 
will be kept for the registry of all permits granted to fishermen and 
fishing boats. 

VII. Licenses hereafter will be granted only to residents of the 
counties within the above limits ; and all sutlers will be confined 
strictly to the privileges granted to them, and will not be permitted 
to trade after the 15th of August, unless the sales of their wares shall 
be regulated by a scale of prices determined before that time by a 
council of administration, as provided under the General Orders of 
the War Department No. 27, of 1862. 

VIII. Merchants will be required to procure stencil plates with 



17 

the number of tlie license in figures, of at least two inches in length 
cut thereon, and with which they will be required to mark every 
package sold by them. A penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) is 
hereby imposed upon any firm who shall fail to comply with the 
above. It is, however, not intended that this restriction shall apply 
to small paper bundles made up for local use. 

IX. Merchandise will not be permitted to be carried through any 
of the canals nor upon any of the water-courses, after it has been re- 
ceived at Norfolk or Portsmouth. 

X. All wagons going South with merchandise, or coming North 
with produce, will be required to pass through Great Bridge, where 
they will be examined. 

XI. Merchants, when submitting their invoices for permits for 
merchandise, will be limited to that required for their business for 
three months ; consumers, in purchasing from the above, will be lim- 
ited to the quantity required by their families for the same time. 
The above restrictions being necessary to prevent an accumulation of 
goods foj contraband purposes. 

XII. Weapons of all kinds, powder, and all items of a contraband 
character are prohibited, and will be seized wherever found. All 
persons attempting to introduce, sell, or conceal any of the above 
will be imprisoned and severely punished, and their personal prop- 
erty will be confiscated. 

XIII. The only currency permitted will be that established by the 
Government of the United States. 

XIV. All passes and privileges at variance with the above order 
are hereby revoked. By command of 

HENRY M. NAGLEE, 
Brigadier Genera I. 
Geo. H. Johnston, 
Capt. and A. A. G. 



18 



Headquarters Department of Virginia, 
Seventh Army Corps, August 10th, 1863. 

General Orders > 
No. > 

The following is hereby substituted for Article TV. of the Special 
Order of August 1st inst., issued from these Headquarters, viz.: — 

IV. Persons residing east of the above line, and between it and 
the coast, will not be permitted to pass Deep Creek, the Southern 
Branch of the Elizabeth River above the mouth of Deep Creek, the 
North Landing River, and the Canal connecting the above, unless in 
the pursuit of their necessary business, with passes of the Provost 
Marshal, and no pass will be given for a longer period than fifteen 
days, and then only to pass at Great Bridge or Deep Creek Bridge 
during the day. 

By command of Brigadier-General Naglee. 

GEO. H. JOHNSTON, 

Official. Assistant Adjutant- General. 

Aid-de- Camp. 



Exhibit I. 



Headquarters District of Virginia, 

Norfolk, Va., September 15, 1863. 

General Orders i 
No. 4. J 

The following picket stations are hereby established, and the fol- 
lowing orders will be observed by all picket and other guard duty 
upon the front, between the Western Branch and the Dismal 
Swamp : — 

No. 1. At the Bridge at Davids' Mill. 

No. 2. At the Bridge at Fort Curtis. 

No. 3. At the Gate on the main Bowers Hill Road at Fort Rodman. 

No. 4. At Deep Creek Village. 



19 



'No. 5. At the Gate in the Deep Creek Road at Fort Reno. 

No. 6. At the intersection of the Deep Creek Road with the Ports- 
mouth Road from the Navy Yard, at the house of John Berry. 

No. 7. On the Main Bowers Hill Road near the camp of the 1st 
N. Y. Mounted Rifles. 

No. 8. At the intersection of the Main Deep Creek and Bowers 
Hill Roads. 

Other posts will be established upon the railroads and at less im- 
portant places. 

No. 1. At Davids' Mills Bridge, the plank of which will be habit- 
ually removed, the commissioned officer commanding the guard will 
permit no citizen whatever, either with or without a pass, to cross 
beyond the bridge, and no soldiers will be allowed to pass except 
officers and soldiers actually on picket and other duty ; no persons 
will be allowed to pass in except contrabands, deserters, and refugees, 
who will take the oath of allegiance, and an oath that they will 
remain within the lines until the termination of the war, and all of 
whom will be sent to the Provost Marshal at Norfolk under guard. 

The plank of the bridge at Fort Curtis will be removed at night. 

No. 2. The guard will be furnished with an alphabetical list of all 
citizens not exceeding one from each family, who reside between the 
creeks that pass at Nos. 1 and 2. They will be permitted to pass 
from their respective houses to and from Portsmouth by the nearest 
road ; passing in on Tuesday and Friday and out on Wednesday and 
Saturday ; but they will not be permitted to travel or be absent from 
their homes after sundown. 

The guards at Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 1 will be furnished by Gen. 
Getty with alphabetical lists of all citizens, not exceeding one from 
each family, who will be permitted to pass only upon business from 
their respective homes to and from Portsmouth by the nearest road, 
on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, between sunrise and sunset, 
and at no other time. 

The railroad bridges at certain points will be removed by order of 
General Getty, and no person whatever will be allowed to pass in 
either direction along the railroads. 

The pickets will arrest all persons who shall leave the roads and 



20 



attempt to avoid any of tlie picket stations, and all persons who shall 
attempt to pass to the front in violation of this order. 

No. 8. Col. Button will station a guard at the intersection of the 
main road from Portsmouth with that from Deep Creek. It will be 
furnished with proper lists, and orders to supervise all travel that 
may pass at this point— allowing no citizen to pass unless upon the 
list, and no soldiers without proper passes. All officers passing with- 
out proper permission will be reported on the morning guard reports, 
and to these headquarters, through the proper channel. 

All soldiers or contrabands that attempt to pass without proper 
authority will be imprisoned at Portsmouth until the following morn- 
ing, where they will be delivered, before it is relieved, to the old 
guard at post No. 6 or T, who will turn them over, the latter to the 
Provost Marshal, and the former to the Colonel of the regiment to 
which they belong, who will order them before a field officer for pun- 
ishment. 

Any non-residents found within the limits of the above stations 
elsewhere than on the way from his or her home to or from Ports- 
mouth, will be arrested. 

All passes will be taken up when the purpose for which they were 
issued has been fulfilled, and returned to the Provost Marshal at 
Norfolk. 

General officers may pass any and all pickets and guards ; but if 
they pass beyond the picket lines it will be noted on the guard 
report. 

General officers will indicate at these headquarters their intention 
to pass to Fort Monroe. 

Pield officers will not pass beyond the limits of their division, or 
their brigade where there is not a division organization, without 
proper authority. 

Line officers will not pass beyond the limits of their brigades with- 
out permission of the brigade commander, nor beyond that of the 
division, without the approval of the division commander, nor across 
Hampton Roads without the permission of the commanding officer 
of the district. 

Soldiers will not be permitted to leave their regiments without 



21 



permission of their Colonels, nor to leave their brigade or division 
without the approval of the respective commanders thereof. 

Soldiers on duty in the Quartermaster and Commissary Depart- 
ments, required to go continually to Portsmouth, will be entered upon 
the proper alphabetical list. 

In the event of an attack, all families will be required to go to 
Portsmouth. 

The discipline of any command may be known by the manner in 
which the guard duty is performed, and the Commanding Officer 
regrets to find it his duty to censure the almost universal neglect and 
carelessness that now prevails in this respect. The attention of all 
officers is hereby called to the necessity of an immediate and thorough 
reformation. 

Sentinels who rest their muskets upon the ground, do not walk 
their posts, and talk with any one that will listen to them, may be 
seen in every direction ; and in a tour of inspection to the front, 
where an attack might have been expected at any moment, pickets 
had not only left their horses, but without exception were lying upon 
their backs fully absorbed in the perusal of light literature. 

Soldiers will not do their duty unless their officers require it to be 
done ; and the inefficiency originating with the latter, he will be held 
responsible for it. The heavy labor of the trenches is nearly over, 
and let us one and all unite, and gain for the command a reputation 
for cleanliness, order, and discipline, that all will refer to with pride 
and satisfaction. 

By command of Brig. -Gen. Naglee. 

GEO. H. JOHNSTON, 
Assistant Adjutant- General. 



22 



Exhibit J. 

" General Jessup," General Peck^s Order respecting. 

Headquarters U. S. Forces in North Carolina, 
Newbern, N. C, August 26th, 1863. 

Special Orders) 
No. 12. I 

III. The Army Gunboat " General Jessup" will proceed at once 
to Fort Monroe, and report to Colonel Thomas, A. Q. M. 
By command of Major-General Peck. 

BENJ. B. FOSTER, 

Assistant Adjutant- General. 

Commanding Officer " General Jessup," 

Through Captain Webster, Chief Quartermaster. 



Exhibit K. 
Major-General Foslerh Order respecting the "Smith Briggs." 

Headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, 
Fort Monroe, Va., August 13th, 1863. 
Special Orders") 
No. 24. I 

Extract. 

II. Captain J. C. Lee, Company "I," 99th, N. Y. Vols., is hereby 
released from arrest, and will report for duty with his Regiments 
All the enlisted men composing the crew of the Steamer " Smith 



23 

Briggs" are hereby relieved from detached service, and will proceed 
to join their respective Companies without unnecessary delay. 
Quartermaster's Department will furnish necessary transportation. 

By command of Major-General Foster. 

SOUTHARD HOFFMAN, 

■Assistant Adjutant- General. 
Brigadier- General Naglee. 



APPENDIX. 



Headquarters Department of Virginia, 
Seventh Army Corps, Norfolk, Va., August 15th, 1863. 

General: Your favor of tlie IStli inst., inclosing a copy of 
that of the President of the 8th inst., is now before me. 

I regret that the efforts made by me to establish proper and 
friendly relations between myself and the civil authorities within 
this Department should have been treated in so very unfriendly 
and unfair a manner by the Mayor and Common Council of the 
City of Portsmouth, and that the representations made to the 
President are not in accordance with the facts. 

From the tenor of the note of the President,* he has been 
made to believe that there was some " difficulty at Norfolk and 
Portsmouth between the city authorities on one side and our 
military on the other," and that they are "in serious conflict 
about the mode of providing for certain destitute famiUes whose 
natural supporters are in the rebel army, or have been killed 
in it." 

Now, General, with all due deference to the parties concerned, 
no such issue ever was made between the Mayor and Council 
and myself, and I never knew there ever existed any conflict 
between us on any subject until my attention was called to the 
resolutions passed by them. 

* See Exhibit A. 
3 



26 

The facts are simply these :— 

Oq the 25th of July I assumed command, and made my head- 
quarters at Norfolk, as requested by you. On the same day the 
Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Virginia, L. C. P. Cowper, 
one of the committee sent to the President, called and inforaied 
me of the destitute condition of certain families who were suffer- 
ing, and I immediately requested him to furnish me with proper 
lists, and that I would forthwith order them to be provided for, 
which was done. On the following day I was informed that the 
Common Council of Portsmouth, not of Norfolk, had passed the 
following ordinance : — 

Adopted July ISth, 1863. 

Resolved, That the Mayor be, and he is hereby authorized ta 
collect rents for all houses, stores, and all other property owned 
by persons who refuse to take the oath of allegiance to the 
United States Government and the restored Government of Vir- 
ginia, and that the proceeds be applied to relieve the wants of 
families in destitute circumstances, and assist in defraying the 
expenses of the City Government. 

WILLIAM F. PARKER, C. C. 

And also another ordinance repudiating certain obligations of 
that city, both of which were causing a great deal of excitement 
and alarm. 

I immediately sought an interview with Mr. Daniel Collins, 
the Mayor of the City of Portsmouth, with the purpose of a 
friendly exchange of opinion, intending thus to prevent any con- 
flict with the authorities of Portsmouth. He admitted there was 
no authority of law for the ordinance, and that they could not 
legally enforce it and confiscate property and collect rents under 
it, but indicated that the military authorities were expected to 
enforce it. I replied that could not be ; that there was no 



27 

necessity of any violation of law; and tliat the property left 
vacant by the absence of owners in the rebel service should go 
into the charge of the Provost Marshal, who should collect the 
rents ; intending, as you will understand, that the Government 
should be thus in part reimbursed for the expenditures made for 
the destitute. This appeared to be entirely satisfactory to Mr. 
Collins, and he left me in a manner that led me to believe that 
this subject was satisfactorily adjusted. 

This comprises my whole and entire communication with the 
Mayor and Common Council of the City of Portsmouth, and you 
may imagine my surprise upon the first day of August upon the 
perusal of the following resolutions : — 

Adopted July 2dth, 1863. 

Whereas, By authority of writs of election issued by his 
Excellency Francis H. Pierpoint, Governor of Virginia, the 
citizens of Portsmouth did, on the 28th of May, 1863, elect civil 
officers with a view to re-establish civil law ; and 

Whereas, The said officers have been installed in office, and 
recognized by the former military commander of this Department, 
and" in view of the fact, which we learn with regret, that the 
present Commander of the Seventh Army Corps has seen proper 
to interfere, with a view to put aside certain acts of the City 
Council, aud believing that no Commanding General, especially 
a non-resident, has a right to decide upon the constitutionality 
of any acts of the Board when the courts of the Commonwealth 
are open to settle any grievances between the citizens and the 
civil authorities ; be it therefore 

Resolved — 1st. That we refuse to recognize the authority of 
Brigadier-General H. M. Naglee to decide any case of appeal 
from the action of this Board. 

Resolved — 2d. That the Mayor and other officers of the City 
Government be required to enforce every act of this Council, 
regardless of any orders emanating from the military authorities, 



28 

and that in the event of a conflict of authority, an appeal shall 
be taken to his Excellency the Governor, to sustain and uphold 
the authority of the State and the city. 

WILLIAM F. PARKER, C. C. 

Adopted August 1st, 18G3. 

Resolved — 1st. That a committee of three be appointed to 
wait on his Excellency Governor F. H. Pierpoint, and represent 
to him that the military commander of this Department has 
interfered with the civil authorities, with a view to set aside 
certain acts of this Board, and decide upon points of civil law, 
M^hen the courts of the Commonwealth are open to decide upon 
all civil questions. 

Resolved — 2d. That the committee, in conjunction with Gov- 
ernor Pierpoint, call upon his Excellency the President of the 
United States, and the Honorable Secretary of War, and ask for 
the immediate removal of the Commanding General of this De- 
partment, and all other officers who have interfered with civil 
law ; and also insist on a precise and exact adjustment of the 
boundaries between civil and military authorities. 

Resolved— M. That the committee be composed of his Honor 
Daniel Collins, Mayor of Portsmouth, his Excellency Lieutenant- 
Governor L. C. P. Cowper, and James W. Brownley, H. D. 

WILLIAM F. PARKER, 

Clerk of Council. 

I will, for your further information, advise you that General 
Getty issued an order on the 29th of July, of which I had no 
knowledge until the 2d or 3d of August, and which was as 
follows : — 



29 

Provost Marshal's Office, 
General Orders'^ Portsmouth, Va., July 29th, 1863. 

No. 1. I 

The Resolution adopted at a meeting of the Common Council 
of the City of Portsmouth, held July 13th, 1863, authorizing the 
Mayor "to collect rents for all houses, stores, and all other 
property owned by persons who refuse to take the oath of alle- 
giance," etc., is hereby suspended, until the decision of the General 
Commanding with reference to the same may be had ; and while 
such decision is pending, the Mayor and other authorities of the 
City of Portsmouth will refrain from all further action under 
and by virtue of said resolutions. 
By command of Brig. -Gen. Getty. 

HIRAM B. CROSBY, 

Major and Provost MarsJial. 

And which, when referred to me, met with my approval. 

On the 11th inst., Governor Pierpoint called upon me, referred 
to the letter of the President, and we compared views in relation 
to our respective civil and militaiy positions ; he admitted there 
was no difference of opinion, and that the Council had no au- 
thority under their charter to condemn property and collect the 
rents. He, however, finally insisted that I should accept as my 
line of conduct, the policy of the resolutions, and confiscate the 
property of every person that would not at once take the oath of 
allegiance to the Government of the United States and the re- 
stored Government of Yirginia. This I positively refused to do ; 
which refusal, I regret to say, seemed to be received with an 
exhibition of much feeling, and in a very unfriendly manner. 

The following is the order of Major- General Dix: — 



30 

Headquartees Depaktment of Virginia, 
Sea'enth Army Corps, Fort Monroe, Va., June IGth, 1863. 

General Orders > 
No. 41. ]■ 

I. The people of the County of Norfolk and of the Cities of 
Norfolk and Portsmouth, having held elections and chosen civil 
and judicial officers, with a view to the administration of civil 
and criminal law within those districts, it is hereby ordered, that 
the authorities thus constituted be recognized, and permitted to 
perform their functions, so far as may be compatible with the 
enforcement of martial law, which has been established in ac- 
cordance with the usages of war, and which is still continued 
throughout this Military Department. 

II, The jurisdiction of Major John A. Bolles as Provost 
Judge, defined in General Orders No. 6, dated 2*Ith June, 1862, 
is hereby enlarged, so as to include all military offenses not 
cognizable by courts-martial ; but the Provost Court will not 
take cognizance of any capital offense ; and an appeal may be 
taken in all cases to the Commanding General of the Depart- 
ment. 

By command of Major-General Dix. 

D. T. YAN BUREN, 

Official. Assistant Adjutant- General. 

Thos. Lord, Jr., Aid-de-Camp. 

In which he "recognized" the civil authorities of Portsmouth, 
so far as civil law "may be compatible with the enforcement of 
martial law." 

As we are situated, the control of the Avhole subject is with 
the military authorities, who may proclaim martial law whenever 
they may so determine. 

I am most happy to add, that there has been no difference or 
"conflict" with the civil authorities of the City and County of 



31 

Norfolk, and that our relations, botli official and social, have 
been of the most agreeable and satisfactory character. 

Since my interview with Governor Pierpoint above referred to, 
I have reviewed the subject, and I have issued the following 
order : — 

* Headquarters Department of Virginia, 

Special Orders') Seventh Army Corps, August 12th, 1863. 

No. 24. > 

* ♦ * * * 

IX. The Provost Marshals of the Cities of Norfolk and Ports- 
mouth will take possession of all houses owned by disloyal per- 
sons now within the rebel lines, and of all real property within 
said cities owned by disloyal persons who take an active part 
against the Government of the United States, or who violate the 
orders of this Department ; but no property shall be condemned 
until written evidence shall have been taken in the premises, and 
be approved by the General Commanding. 

X. The fund created by the rental of the above property shall 
be appropriated exclusively toward the relief of the destitute 
families of officers and soldiers in the rebel army. 

By command of Brig. -Gen. Naglee. 

GEO. H. JOHNSTON, 

Asst. Adjutant- General. 

Which, in connection with Special Order of August first,* herein 
inclosed, will indicate my pohcy, and which is as far as I can 
conscientiously go in the premises. 

I regret the course pursued by the Mayor of the City of Ports- 
mouth ; he has succeeded in doing just what I endeavored to 
avoid. 



* See Exhibit A. 



32 

The persons in destitute condition referred to by tlie President 
were ordered to be taken care of immediately upon my arrival in 
Norfolk, and that subject was never one of difference, and I 
believe was never referred to by Mayor Collins at the only inter- 
view ever had between us. 

Respectfully submitting the above report, let me request that 
it may be laid before the President in explanation of'the subject. 
I am. General, veiy respectfully, etc., 

HENRY M. NAGLEE, 

Brig. -Gen. Commanding. 
Major-Gen. J. G. Foster, 

Com. DejDt. of Va. and N. C, Fort Monroe. 

Headquarters Department of Virginia, 
Seventh Army Corps, Norfolk, Va., August 16th, 1863. 

General : I inclose the copies of the complaints of Governor 
Pierpoint, also of Leopold C. P. Cowper, notary public and 
Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Virginia, with the indorse- 
ment of the Provost Marshal thereon, and my instructions to 
him. 

Also, the complaint of various citizens that the only physi- 
cian in their part of the country is prohibited from pursuing his 
practice unless he will take the oath of allegiance to the Govern- 
ment of the United States and to the restored Government of 
Virginia. 

The course now pursued by the civil authorities is as fol- 
lows : — 

They require that no person shall practice at his profession, 
whether it be in the pulpit, at the bar, or of medicine, unless he 
shall first take the oath above referred to ; no person is allowed 
to collect his rents, or any debt due, unless he or she take the 
oath ; no one is allowed to trade in any manner, unless he first 
takes the oath ; the result of all which will be, that the list now 
comprising 3000 destitute families will soon make paupers of the 



38 

entire population — 16,000 — of the Cities of Norfolk and Ports- 
mouth, excepting probably 1000 persons who have come here 
from the North, since the rebellion began, for business purposes. 

Governor Pierpoint called upon me on Friday, the 14th instant, 
and after exhibiting to me certain papers adopted, as he informed 
me, by the Branch Bank of Virginia at this place, required me 
at once to order the directors with their families to be put over 
the lines. 

With the little opportunity afforded, I could not understand 
the merits of the case, and I desired the Governor to make his 
request in writing, and to let me have time to examine the sub- 
ject, which he refused to do, replying that "my orders should 
come from General Foster, or the President of the United States." 

From the little seen by me, I could only understand that the 
directors were responsible for some $500,000 of the assets of the 
bank, and that for their protection as trustees they contested the 
vaHdity of the order, intending to yield and abandon them (the 
assets) the moment a sufficient force was brought against them. 

Let me request you, General, to submit this communication to 
the President with that of yesterday, that he may be informed of 
these differences, not therein alluded to. 
Yery respectfully, etc., 

HENRY M. NAGLEE, 

Brig. -Gen. Commanding. 
To Major-General J. G. Foster, 

Com. Dept. Va. and N. C, Fort Monroe. 



34 



Exhibit A. 

Letter of His Excellency the President to Major-General 
Foster, Fort Monroe. 

Executive Mansion, 
Washington, Aug. 8th, 1863. 

General Foster: This will be handed you by Governor Pier- 
point, of Virginia. He goes, among other things, seeking to 
adjust a difficulty at Norfolk and Portsmouth. 

It seems there is a large number of families in Portsmouth 
who are destitute, and whose natural supporters are in the rebel 
army, or have been killed in it. These destitute families must 
live somehow ; and it seems the city authorities on one side, and 
our military on the other, are in serious conflict about the mode 
of providing them. 

Governor Pierpoint is a good man, and if you will place him 

in conference and similar relations with the military authority in 

the vicinity, I do not doubt that much good will come of it. 

Please do it. 

Yours truly, 

A. LINCOLN. 

Exhibit B. 

Headquakters Depaetment op Virginia, 
Seve.ntii Army Cori'S, Norfolk, Va., August 1st, 1868. 

Special Orders 1 
No. I 

I. The following line is hereby established : Commencing at 
the mouth of the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River; thence 
by the Western Branch to the head of the same; thence by 
Bower's Hill to the head of Deep Creek; thence through the 
Dismal Swamp to Lake Drummond ; thence to the head of the 
Western Branch of the Pasquotank River; and thence by the 
latter and the Pasquotank River to Albemarle Sound. 



35 

II. Any person attempting to pass the above lines will be 
arrested and severely punished, 

III. Any person attempting to pass letters, information, or 
merchandise across the above line, and all interested with them, 
will be imprisoned and severely punished ; and the goods seized, 
as well as all other personal property within this Department 
belonging to all implicated, will be confiscated. 

TV. Persons residing east of the above line and between it and 
the coast will not be permitted to pass Deep Creek, the Southei*n 
Branch of the Elizabeth River above the mouth of Deep Creek, 
the North Landing River, and the canal connecting the above, 
unless in the pursuit of their necessary business with passes of 
the Provost Marshal, and no pass will be given for a period 
longer than fifteen days, and then only to pass at Great Bridge 
or Deep Creek Bridge during the day. 

y. No boat will be permitted to enter the Western Branch of 
the Elizabeth River, Deep Creek, or the Pasquotank River; nor 
will be permitted to approach the left bank of Elizabeth River 
below the Western Branch of the same ; nor will be permitted 
to approach the shore between Craney Island and Pig Point, 
under a penalty of an immediate destruction of the boat, and 
imprisonment and severe punishment of those taken and inter- 
ested in the venture. 

VI. On or before the 15th of August, all steamboats, vessels, 
or boats of any description, must be numbered and registered by 
the Provost Marshal, who will require that they shall be kept at 
night at such places and in such manner as he may direct. An 
especial list will be kept for the registry of all permits granted to 

■ fishermen and fishing boats. 

VII. Licenses hereafter will be granted only to residents of the 
counties within the above limits ; and all sutlers will be confined 
strictly to the privileges granted to them, and will not be permitted 
to trade after the 15th of August, unless the sales of their wares 
shall be regulated by a scale of prices determined before that 



36 

time by a council of administration, as provided under the Gen- 
eral Orders of the War Department No. 21, of 1862. 

VIII. Merchants will be required to procure stencil plates 
with the number of the license in figures, of at least two inches 
in length cut thereon, and with which they will be required to 
mark every package sold by them. A penalty of five hundred 
dollars ($500) is hereby imposed upon any firm who shall fail to 
comply with the above. It is, however, not intended that this 
restriction shall apply to small paper bundles made up for local 
use. 

IX. Merchandise will not be permitted to be carried through 
any of the canals nor upon any of the water-courses, after it has 
been received at Norfolk or Portsmouth. 

X. All wagons going South with merchandise, or coming 
North with produce, will be required to pass through Great 
Bridge, where they will be examined. 

XI. Merchants, when submitting their invoices for permits for 
merchandise, will be limited to that requii-ed for their usual busi- 
ness for three months ; consumers, in purchasing from the above, 
will be limited to the quantity required ])y their families for the 
same time. The above restrictions being necessary to prevent 
an accumulation of goods for contraband purposes. 

XII. Weapons of all kinds, powder, and all items of a contra- 
band character are prohibited, and will be seized wherever found. 
All persons attempting to introduce, sell, or conceal any of the 
above will be imprisoned and severely punished, and their per- 
sonal property will be confiscated. 

XIII. The only currency permitted will be that established by 
the Government of the United States. 

XIV. All passes and privileges at variance with the above 
order are hereby revoked. By command of 

HENRY M. NAGLB, 

Brigadier- General. 
Geo. H. Johnston, 

Capt. and A. A. G. 



37 
Exhibit C. 

Fort Moneoe, August 14th, 1863. 
G SNERAL NaGLEE, 

Norfolk, Va. 

Sir : Complaints are still made that your Provost Marshal of 
Portsmouth is turning out tenants in that city who refuse to pay 
their rents. I supposed, from the conversation we had on 
Tuesday evening, that you had no knowledge that your Provost 
Marshal of Portsmouth was interfering in the subjects of rents 
further than the collection from tenant^ where the owners were 
in the rebel army. 

I was shown an order on Tuesday, from your Provost Marshal 
in Portsmouth, directing a party to pay rents ; another is handed 
me to-day, and I am informed that parties are to be turned out 
of houses this p.m. I desire to know explicitly from you, if you 
intend to persist in the collection of debts or rents for those peo- 
ple in Norfolk and Portsmouth, through your Provost Courts, or 

in any other way, 

1 am yours, etc., 

P. H. PIERPOINT. 

General Naglee indorsed upon the above as follows : — 

Major Crosby, P. M., will report immediately in relation to the 

within. 

H. M. N A GLEE, 

August 15. Brig.- Gen. Com^g. 

To which Major Crosby, Pro. Mar., replied as follows: — 

Exhibit D. 

Office of the Provost Marshal, 

Portsmouth, Va., Aug. 15th, 18G3. 

Communication received, and in reply to the matters therein 
referred to, it is respectfully submitted that my official action in 



relation to rents is confined to the simple act of forbidding 

tenants from paying rents to the Mayor, and protecting them in 

cases where they make payment to the o^vner. 

A large number of tenants take advantage of the resolution 

of the Common Council, and refuse to pay a^iy rent whatever, 

which causes much suffering where the rents are the only means 

of support. 

HIRAM B. CROSBY, 

Major and Provost Marshal. 

Exhibit E. 

City of Portsmouth, to wit: 

I, Leopold C. P. Cowper, Notary Public, in and for the city 
aforesaid, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, do certify 
that James Fleming, personally known to me to be the sergeant in 
and for said city, who made oath that Major Crosby, the Provost 
Marshal, acting for the said city aforesaid, ordered that a sutler 
in the United States Army, for the 21st Regiment of Connecticut 
Volunteers, Charles H. Burdick, should not pay the licenses im- 
posed by the ordinances of said city for selling to citizens of said 

city. 

LEOPOLD C. P. COWPER, 

Notary Public. 

This man Burdick has rented a store, and keeps an open store 
in the city, selling to citizens freely, and upon complaint by the 
sergeant of a violation of our ordinance,^this order (affidavit ?) was 
made. 

Exhibit F. 

Headquarters Department of Virginia, 
Seventh Army Corps, Norfolk, Va., August 17th, 1863. 

Major: In the execution of your duties, you will confine 
yourself . strictly to those which have been accurately defined. 



39 

All cases not definitely autliorizecl from tliese headquarters must 
be referred to tlie General Commanding the Department of Vir- 
ginia, for his instructions. 

Sutlers will be compelled to pay a license to the city authori- 
ties, if they sell to others than soldiers. 

You will not interfere between the landlord and tenant, unless 

as provided for in Special Order of 12th August, 1863, No. 24,* 

regarding property abandoned or condemned. 

Respectfully, 

GEO. H. JOHNSTON, 

Cajitain and A. A. G. 

By command of Brig. -Gen. Henry M. Naglee. 

Exhibit G. 

Sewell's Point, August 15tb, 1803. 

We, the undersigned loyal residents of Sewell's Point, Norfolk 
County, would most respectfully ask of Major-General Naglee, 
that he would grant Dr. S. D. Campbell, of Norfolk City, per- 
mission to practice his profession in our neighborhood, west 
of a line from the Indian Pole Bridge to Ocean Yiew, embracing 
a district known as Sewell's Point ; he being our regular physi- 
cian and acquainted with our constitutions and diseases, we 
would much prefer him to another. 
With much respect, 

We remain yours obediently, 
W. W. Hewlein, Reuben Gernto, 

Jas. H. Powell, Edward Stroud, 

Thos. W. Pumphrey, W. H. Holmes, 

B. P. Pumphrey, H. M. Williams, 

John T. Pumphrey, A. Cropper, 

David Williams. 

* See page 31, for copy of order. 



'^ 










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n<.. 




